Jamayne Taunoa-Brown - also known as Yung Maynie - an up-and-coming rapper and hip-hop producer from Melbourne
An Australian hip-hop artist has traded in his microphone for a football as he tries to crack an NRL team.

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown - also known as 'Yung Maynie' - is an up-and-coming rapper and hip-hop producer from Melbourne.

But the 23-year-old will be standing in front of a different crowd on Saturday with some of Australia and New Zealand's football greats.

Taunoa-Brown has been selected to play for Laurie Daley's Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast next week.

The 117kg prop is on a trial with the New Zealand Warriors, earning $1,000 a week - leaving him with only $500 after rent and tax.

Despite the meagre pay, the youngster will be playing alongside some of the highest-earning players in rugby league.

Taunoa-Brown (pictured) has been selected to play for Laurie Daley's Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast next week"
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Taunoa-Brown (pictured) has been selected to play for Laurie Daley's Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast next weekTaunoa-Brown was selected for the Australian side alongside Latrell Mitchell and David Fifita.

He'll be facing off against Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jesse Bromwich on the opposing Maori side.

The selection was made by organisers of the charity event who were scrambling to get reinforcements after high profile drop-outs due to injury.

Taunoa-Brown began his football career playing for the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights junior sides.

'He has always been a player I have had time for. I thought he was the best attacking prop in Queensland Cup last year when he was with Norths Brisbane, that's beyond any doubt,' he said.

'I brought him to New Zealand to train and trial. He has been terrific and the coaches want to keep him. We are hoping to upgrade him into the top squad next year.'

Taunoa-Brown has a strong career ahead of him in NRL"
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Warriors recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan told the New Zealand Herald Taunoa-Brown has a strong career ahead of him in NRL
But the young footy player is a double-threat, and has been working on career as a rapper and hip-hop producer on the side.

Taunoa-Brown's alter ego Yung Maynie has attracted a young fan base in Australia after featuring on national music program Triple J Unearthed.

He revealed his career in the music industry was born out passion during an interview last year.

'I have always loved music,' he said. 'It was always a hobby, mucking around with music with my mates at school. Over the last couple of years I started making my own tracks.

'I've got a little set-up at home, a little studio, everything I need, in a spare room.'

1st Grade Fringe

Be watching how he goes this weekend for the indige team
Was awesome in the Q cup but this is next level
Sounds like the aptitude wasn't there with the Storm, a huge opportunity missed.
Come on Warriors don't f**k this up
Just play your own game kid, stick to the basics but go hard...

New Zealand Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has revealed plans to offer train-and-trialist prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown a permanent contract, as the club prepares to cover for the loss of Bunty Afoa to a season-ending knee injury.

1st Grade Fringe

Do we get some kind of injury squad dispensation seeing as we've lost a player for the season before its even kicked off? as in, JTB becomes the 29th player and a spot remains open for a certain BMM mid-season switch. Not to mention another possible spot if we can rid ourselves of Lisone

1st Grade Fringe

Do we get some kind of injury squad dispensation seeing as we've lost a player for the season before its even kicked off? as in, JTB becomes the 29th player and a spot remains open for a certain BMM mid-season switch. Not to mention another possible spot if we can rid ourselves of Lisone

No go forward

Potential yes sir
Don’t get me wrong I’m all about the side hustle but i hopes he puts down the G Unit for a bit and concentrates on that Forward Pack Unit and cements his place in the squad
From Flip Mode Squad to Beast Mode Squad

1st Grade Fringe

Looked sound defensively and always looked busy. Looked as tho he would always fall into the tackle instead of trying to get post contact metres. POS said he was by far the best attacking prop in Q Cup so will have to wait and see. An upgrade on Lisone

1st Grade Fringe

For someone who's never played first grade and up against a pretty solid Maori pack he didn't look out of his league.... I'm glad he got that opportunity.... So it's no wonder they want to get Lisone out so they can sign this kid also.... Can't wait to see him get some action and grow

1st Grade Fringe

Looked sound defensively and always looked busy. Looked as tho he would always fall into the tackle instead of trying to get post contact metres. POS said he was by far the best attacking prop in Q Cup so will have to wait and see. An upgrade on Lisone

His attack will improve as he gets bled in small doses the way he was used in the game.
JBrom had a v-line on him all night and he absorbed the contact well.
Now if he can go in without dropping his shoulder he will be more of a handful to put down and gain more post contact meters.

Briton laid a good one on him from kick off.
Welcome to your new world.

1st Grade Fringe

The dude would have been overawed at the company he found himself among arriving into the indige camp.
Then arriving to the ground being a part of the buildup and then standing to face the haka.
Nek minit Bang! reality check first hitup..
Welcome to the big time dude.
Not a bad way to get blooded, a nines tournament mingling with other NRL teams then an all stars game amongst hardened players.
And a contract to boot!
At 23 he still has a couple of years to grow and develop his game so 2020 will be interesting.
Get this first season under the belt.
It's all up to you now brother
Welcome to the Warriors!

1st Grade Fringe

His attack will improve as he gets bled in small doses the way he was used in the game.
JBrom had a v-line on him all night and he absorbed the contact well.
Now if he can go in without dropping his shoulder he will be more of a handful to put down and gain more post contact meters.

Briton laid a good one on him from kick off.
Welcome to your new world.

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